IVREA. There is no money for Ivrea, Capital of the Book 2022. Or rather: the funds of the Ministry of Culture, 500 thousand euros, have not yet arrived. And it is a bit difficult for the Municipality to confirm the ambitious program of events and initiatives that, for a year, will characterize the cultural events of the city. Those of the Ministry, mind you, are the classic “technical times”. But in Ivrea they pause.
The Council of Ministers approved the assignment of the title of Italian Book Capital on 6 April. However, the decree that unlocks the funds is missing. The hope is that it still takes a lot. “Without financial resources it becomes difficult to plan – confirms the councilor for culture of Ivrea, Costanza Casali – in the meantime we have decided to set up a special office and a technical table to be ready”. The program of events should be defined in the second half of May. “In this way, it will be possible to present it at the Turin International Book Fair”. The actual opening event should take place no earlier than the last weekend of June. It will be an all-round event: with books, of course. But also with a white night, open shops and many attractions in the city. «In the meantime we have published two other calls and the various projects to which the resources will be allocated will all end up in the schedule – says the councilor – despite the wait for the funds of the Ministry we are working to achieve the goal. We would also like to “dress up” the city and decorate it for a party. To be able to publish the announcement and give the assignments, however, you need to have the resources, also considering the technical times to carry out the work “. Last year the funds for the 2021 book capital, Vibo Valenti,) arrived in July: it would be out of time for Ivrea. And numerous reminders have already been sent from the Municipality.
Meanwhile, yesterday, at the Giacosa Theater, for the Unesco World Book Day, the event that opened the twelfth edition of “Il Maggio dei Libri” was held, the campaign of the “Center for books and reading” which until May 31 invites to organize in-person and digital initiatives inspired by the theme «ContemporaneaMente. Read to understand ». Present Marino Sinibaldi, president of the Center and of the jury that in February awarded the title of capital to Ivrea, Paolo Verri, coordinator of Ivrea 2022, Gaetano Di Tondo, president of the Olivetti Historical Archive Association, and the writers Alessandro Perissinotto and Donatella Di Pietrantonio.
In short, technical tests of book capital, waiting for the organizational machine, the Ministry’s portfolio permitting, to get started.